How 4 companies control the beef industry

Corporate consolidation is making it impossible for cattle ranchers to stay afloat.
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Cattle auctions happen every day throughout the US; they serve a crucial purpose for the cattle markets. Inside one of these auctions, like the one we profile in St. Onge, South Dakota, you can see how a competitive market functions. There are multiple producers and buyers competing for a commodity, which results in a value, or price, for that commodity.
But over the past 40 years, the meatpacking sector - made up of the companies that buy and slaughter cattle for consumption - has undergone a dramatic degree of corporate consolidation. In the 1980s, the US relaxed its approach to antitrust enforcement, one tool the government uses to rein in market concentration. Today, only four companies process 85 percent of all the cattle produced in the US.
Cattle ranchers say this is affecting their ability to compete for good prices and make a living. This is one way industrialized agriculture is making it difficult for independent farmers and ranchers to stay in business in America.
For this story, we contacted Tyson Foods, Cargill, National Beef, and JBS for comment. We only received a response from Tyson: A representative shared testimony from one of the company’s executives at a recent Senate hearing. We included that in this video, and the full transcript is below:
www.tysonfoods.com/news/news-...
This is the first episode of a series we are producing with the Future Perfect team at Vox, who explore big problems and the big ideas that can tackle them. We are calling this season The Human Cost of Meat, and future episodes will explore other ways industrial meat production has transformed the lives of people who consume meat, work in the meat industry, or live next to a factory farm.
Watch Episode 2, The chicken industry's worker safety problem: • The chicken industry’s...
Watch Episode 3, Hog farming has a massive poop problem: • Hog farming has a mass...
Further reading:
Future Perfect produced a podcast season on other ways Big Meat has changed our lives:
www.vox.com/future-perfect-po...
Claire Kelloway’s reporting for Vox on Big Meat:
www.vox.com/future-perfect/22...
New York Times reporting on how the pandemic revealed supply chain bottlenecks:
www.nytimes.com/2021/06/23/bu...
The CEO of R-CALF USA, Bill Bullard, was a source for this story. R-CALF is in the midst of a lawsuit against the packing industry. For the latest on their case:
www.r-calfusa.com/minnesota-f...
Vox.com is a news website that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines. Check out www.vox.com
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[@Vox]

Thanks for watching! This is the first episode of a series we are producing with the Future Perfect team at Vox, who explore big problems and the big ideas that can tackle them. We are calling this season The Human Cost of Meat, and future episodes will explore other ways industrial meat production has transformed the lives of people who consume meat, work in the meat industry, or live next to a factory farm. You can listen to more Future Perfect reporting on other ways Big Meat has changed our lives here: www.vox.com/future-perfect-podcast

[@prodohsamuel]

"other ways Big Meat has changed our lives" Hehe theres a few 😈😈

[@eliteffsquadron9932]

Can you make a video on the impact and future of the American suburban experiment

[@Fabdanc]

Resisting the urge to comment on every video until the entire series has been released... I know you got an angle here Vox, and I know I am not going to see the full narrative until the last video.

[@thefashionablephilosopher]

I appreciate y'all reporting on the meat industry, even if it is from a more neutral standpoint. Some politicians, especially in New York, are proposing ways to help farmers transitions from livestock farming to other farming methods or means of income. I sincerely hope these farmers can transition, because the profitability of the livestock industry is going to just keep tanking

[@Vox]

​@@eliteffsquadron9932 Thanks for the idea! In the meantime, Phil did a video in 2019 on "Why so many suburbs look the same", that you can watch here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rIjLip-rbL-Zj68

[@Krustenkaese92]

its honestly impressive how many of current Americas problems can be traced back to Reagan.

[@white3768]

Not just America, I believe Vice made a documentary where the rise of the Mexican drug cartel is linked to Regan’s War on Drugs,

[@oigioioivn]

Well American put 2 people from the entertainment industry in presidency in recent history. One is Reagan, the other one is Trump.

[@nataliekhanyola5669]

Prety much all of them

[@pabloo014]

ALWAYS back to Reagan

[@yobobby3967]

Not only. Stats show inequality has been rising around the whole world since Reagan, while it was reducing before him.

[@444._lovergrl]

why does this channel make me interested in things i never thought i’d be interested in

[@budisoemantri2303]

True, the topics are completely random

[@savasava9923]

@@budisoemantri2303 yeah, i always watching vox while eating and im enjoying it

[@icost4671]

I'm here to pack on more knowledge.🤔 On everything and anything 😳

[@idontwanttopickone]

@@savasava9923 is it beef? 😅

[@yuhuangyou5356]

@@savasava9923 focus on your food and feel it

[@auroraslattery6573]

As a cow calf producer I want to personally thank Vox for this video. This is a serious problem we are facing.

[@michaelsmith2733]

Wait until Bill Gates gets done with you.

[@ferditefik6471]

Sir we are here to support you and fellows doing the same as you !

[@of-Israel]

​@@michaelsmith2733 Surprised Vox is covering this find a local producer and processor and circumvent these corporations, it's an upfront cost but your getting animals with a much better quality of life.

[@twistedpixel2558]

@@of-Israel That's the way most of us country folks have been doing all along. I buy mine live and take them to a local butcher shop and have them processed myself. I'm not tryna pay $24 lb for some run of the mill salebarn piece of meat from Walmart. It's actually cheaper to buy them straight from the producer anyway. By the time I pay for the cow and the cutting and wrapping it works out to about $1.60- $2.50 lb in the freezer depending on how much I paid per pound for the cow itself. You also get a better quality piece of meat buying one that you know has been finish fed for at least the last 90 days. I sometimes split one with the guy I buy from so he has as much incentive to see that it's done right as I do.

[@Rottingboards]

@@michaelsmith2733 If you think Bill Gates is more of an issue...then these meatpackers companies have won. You are watching squirrels when the tiger is in front of you. 40% of cattle farmers are gone...the same goes for corn, chicken, and soybeans.

[@tjfm2456]

This is the thing that always gets me. Meat production in the US *used to* be somewhat environmentally conscious. Bigger, less concentrated farms where the animals are raised properly have a much lower impact on the environment, but farms were forced to industrialize because of the packer monopoly messing up the supply chain. Moreover if farming was done the way it used to be, there wouldn’t have been a meat shortage during the pandemic. This is why we shouldn’t be villainizing cow farmers. We should be looking at the corporations that warped the industry.

[@lereff1382]

There is no "environmentally conscious" way to raise cattle, and certainly no ethical way to do it either.

[@ericrudgers6816]

@@lereff1382 you are completely wrong

[@franciscaromeroblanco3422]

I'm not really sure how they used to produced in US, buuut now a days even if the production is intensive and not extensive it's environmentally conscious, for example, in vet's curriculum studies we have to learn how to manage all the wastes in an ecological and proper way so they don't become a hazard to the environment heath and that translate to the human and wild animals healths. As I said I don't have the background or the knowledge of the US evolution in production, but entities as FAO and OIE are constantly in the lookout for better practice where Europe and the US are in the firsts places in environment and animal welfare

[@juggernogsoda4515]

Regardless people are going to want meat and like many other products that are made unethically/through sweatshops people buy it because they want or need it

[@Coco-yy5pw]

People in Texas/rural know that the issue of CO2 is the corporation, not a small rancher. I don’t understand why the feedlots don’t make their own Meatpacker

[@anquelmartho]

In Brazil, milk and coffee market works the same, lots of producers and just a handful of packers. This is outsourcing at it's worse. Those packers don't run their business with much risk, if production goes down, only farmers suffer. Packers just sell less.

[@ninadkashyap7573]

Beef industry in Brazil is especially destructive considering how the go about destroying Amazon for more land

[@jesusislord6545]

Repent to Jesus Christ!!!!1

[@Walter-Montalvo]

Very interesting, didn’t realize that this sort of concentration occurred in Brazil. Very similar process

[@FizzyGajing]

Why dont Brasil have more packers?

[@juliemac5604]

America basically taught Brazil how to do it, but Brazil doesn’t have antitrust laws

[@LuGer212]

"the illusion of choice" - that is a pretty perfect summary of what's going on today

[@DaveE99]

And all we get with this is 32 Different types of soap.

[@abort_abort5322]

Why not do a video on how many company’s control advertising ? Broadcasting ?

[@cancelconservatism7041]

This 👏👏👏

[@johntack1049]

Maybe time to get government out of the way. Separate gov from business.

[@romanlegion5837]

you can pretty much throw a dart at a chart of american industries and a lack of true competition in the market is a pretty obvious problem

[@bubba3667]

This made me cry. It’s Very moving to me as a small rancher owner

[@jacksevert3099]

Ehh you get what you vote for. it's not like the people in your state are going to change how they vote

[@MessekBroccoli]

Seeing the videos of the cows being abused makes me cry quite a lot more than their abusers going out of business

[@bmsnider1]

My family was never involved in ranching so I am the first to have always dreamed of raising cattle on my own ranch. I researched and discovered what the video reveals. An individual ranch has little chance of succeeding........in the U. S. So I bought a ranch and living my dream in Uruguay. Best decision ever.

[@jeffcgh]

What’s it like down there?

[@user-zu2bw7ig5v]

That's awesome.

[@MessekBroccoli]

I too have always dreamed of a future where I can torture animals and sell there bodies for profit!

[@user-zu2bw7ig5v]

@@MessekBroccoli beef tastes so good that's why God gave them to us.

[@marinmarinhola]

Isn't competition still tough? With Brazil pumping out so much low quality beef that tanks the prices. Same thing they did with coffee.

[@lovepeace225]

There is a book called “Goliath” and it’s about monopolies and anti-trust laws. It shows a full time line of how America has let big companies control industries without much regulation.

[@yaboy0327]

Shout out to the OG Matt Stoller! Top 10 policy analysts of our day.

[@ronnymesias7788]

Will look into that book Appreciate the recommendation

[@RobbyTripp]

Do you happen to know the author?

[@yaboy0327]

@@RobbyTripp Matt Stoller

[@RobbyTripp]

@@yaboy0327 thank you! I didn’t realize you already posted his name.

[@brandimcgoff8626]

It's hard to see such a tough guy cry. It's heartbreaking for these farmers.

[@isaacninan5053]

Ikr seeing the cool rancher man cry really hit me

[@Gafigglethorp]

it made me cry a little bit too ngl

[@jeffersonclippership2588]

Oh no, the poor little welfare queens are sad🥺

[@kirkydaturkey]

Really put this in perspective 🙁 It's easy to forget about the people like this who keep areas of our economy running

[@carlosa.9533]

I have the feeling that those cows are having a harder time

[@gwhammy2000]

Luckily we in the small farming communities still have a local locker and the farmers that raise the beef to buy it from. Every locker I know of is booked for months ahead with locals buying a half or whole beef or hog and beating the retail price.

[@beckyd712]

We also have better idea of how our food was raised when we can drive by the farm. It's good to have an idea of what's in your food and on your plate. Also, we need to keep our local farms in business so we still have food when "supply chain" shortages happen or when big box stores pack up and leave.

[@mrwbean]

Wow heavy feels for this one. Thank you for bringing up this issue that's looming over our entire society yet so few of us recognize it as an issue.

[@ruelarila7201]

It's sad how trickle-down economics often means that the costs are trickled-down but never the profits.

[@MrAlexs888]

just as intended

[@owennilens8892]

Exactly! Trickle down is a very misunderstood concept in economics. Trickle down actually doesn't mean the money will trickle down but that the rich have more money available that they will use to invest more in innovation that will/could eventually benefit us. For example by making things more efficient and cheaper or investing in economies of scale. (Though honestly I don't see his innovations like SpaceX and BlueOrigin trickle down much... so I guess even this theory when interpreted correctly has its flaws/limitations)

[@dharkbizkit]

if the profits would trickle down, the investors and wouldnt do it, because its less profit for them. the maxime is to maximise profits for your own good, not the good of others

[@RoccoArgubright]

@@owennilens8892 No, trickle down isn’t even a legitimate economic form, it’s a strawman of supply side economics

[@Mike__B]

Just look at what lumber prices did during the pandemic. People argue all day long that it's because so much more building going on, really? but whatever... if you look down the line the guys hauling logs from forests aren't making any more money, the guys who cut the logs down aren't making any more money, the guys who sell the rights for trees on their property aren't making any more money. Yet the few big companies who are making lumber to sell to stores(e.g. Georgia Pacific) are now having record years.

[@johnchessant3012]

This is real journalism. It's a shame we have so many 24-hour news networks but so little of this is going on.

[@breakingcode92]

They interviewed cattle farmers on a perspective of why cattle farming trade laws are not good? No right to reply? No legal experts? How is this real journalism? Please wake up John

[@hto560]

Ironically it’s kinda the same reason as this video describes. Most of the News and media has been consolidated and is owned and controlled by the same few corporations

[@jackblack704]

@@breakingcode92 Found the Cargill CEO

[@lu-dx6oh]

@@breakingcode92 how much is russia paying you comrade, you seem like a Putin lover

[@breakingcode92]

@@lu-dx6oh I actually hate putin with a passion. Precisely for the same reason that there is a limited amount of perspectives that get categorised as facts or their news gets classed as 'real journalism'... but I wouldn't say the west is far removed from the Philosophy Putin strives by, it is just more obscured and less overt.

[@willungs541]

My hometown of Dubuque, Iowa was hit really hard by the consolidation of the meat packing industry. At one point in the early 80s, we had the highest unemployment rate out of any city in the country (about 25%). 40 years later, the city is still struggling to come back. Thank you for sharing this video.

[@TheBalterok]

don't blame the corporations, dont even blame their lobbyists. blame the government that for some interesting reason decides it is entitled to a piece of every apple pie in the country.

[@franciscaromeroblanco3422]

I'm studying to become a vet but I'm from Chile in South America, i want to highlight that my country is the 8th in porcine production, 10th in poultry and 15th in turkey so as a small developing country it's really important for our economy; what happens in big countrys and already developed continents affects in so many ways. The domino effect generated by the prices in USA production also affects prices in smaller countrys like Chile

[@Tustin2121]

At this point, Vox should just have a series called “And Then Regan Happened”, because the Regan Administration seems to be the catalyst for a TON of our problems today.

[@visu550]

@A B our currency as well they installed the federal reserve

[@uhohhotdog]

@@visu550 theres nothing wrong with the federal reserve and that wasn’t Reagan.

[@kelvin4833]

Fr 😂

[@kitfrias3469]

I second this!!!

[@reyerik8240]

Lol but people love him and Republicans swear by him .

[@brunokallasfs]

Less government doesn’t always mean more freedom. Sometimes government regulations are necessary in order to preserve freedom.

[@sigvebeyer9765]

Absolutly it’s literally playing a competitive game but rejecting the judge.

[@white3768]

Unfortunately thats usually how the right wing thinks,

[@damienalvarez2957]

Weak government has already been tried and was a total disaster. Articles of Confederation.

[@fatfat1877]

@@damienalvarez2957 strong government has been tried and was a total disaster. USSR

[@Martin-dq1wv]

@@white3768 Only the right wing in USA xD. In USA they think that any change is against their freedom...

[@GwynneDear]

We started getting all of our chicken pork and beef from a local family farm 2 years ago. I’ve been to the farm, our daughter has played with their children and we know they treat their livestock humanely. We pick up our meat monthly and see our farmers every time we pick it up.

[@NoInjusticeLastsForever]

Local killing doesn't make it ethical. Since when did a murder taking place closer to someone make it alright?

[@billiemiquelfrazier1312]

Seeing him cry literally broke my heart because I know ranchers in my town are going through the same thing.

[@JJs_playground]

When i was a young kid, before i understood politics or anything of the sort, I always thought Ronald Reagan was a great president. But now that I'm old enough to understand the world around me, I've realized the Reagan administration messed up a lot of policies that are still being felt 4 decades later.

[@winspaarkiebarkiebarker]

If you need any proof, go look at a graph of the wealth gap, take a look where wages split off from productivity, it’s right on the dot of Reagan’s presidency. Reagan undid centuries of legislation put in place by the Roosevelt government specifically designed to protect the free market, in the name of “freeing it”

[@the_rubbish_bin]

@@winspaarkiebarkiebarker *decades

[@Munchausenification]

thats pretty common in a two party system though. In Denmark we have more than two parties but most of the time its between the two biggest ones to govern, which means it sometimes is about how to change what the last administration have been doing. Seems to be somewhat the same thing happening in the US. Maybe not so much with Biden, but I might be wrong.

[@SimuLord]

Ronald Reagan was my boyhood hero, which may just demonstrate that you need the intellect of a child to regard the Republican Party as the party of good ideas.

[@cwmoo]

Reagan told Americans what they wanted to hear. We were moral, and good, and there would be unlimited wealth and growth. No need to worry about resource consumption, consolidation, financialization, offshoring. Some people look back fondly on those times because they felt simpler - no need to worry about the coming problems because the president said everything was going to be ok. It was all just an illusion that tricked Americans into putting off solving these big problems of inequality and resource overuse.

[@ydid687]

do this same thing for media companies and banks and lobbying companies

[@SpaceRanger187]

And the fish industry in Asia.. People think we eat some cow.Aint seen nothing to what they do to the environment.There wolnt be any fish left in the ocean soon enough

[@ydid687]

@@SpaceRanger187 w0w i thought my comment will get buried amongst hundred others here, glad people care. as for the reply i hear you, over-fishing is a serious environmental concern threatening the complex food web and disturbing ocean flora & fauna interactions on a very big scale.

[@TheMedicatedArtist]

We’d need a full on docuseries to cover media companies.

[@Prathik1989]

"wHaT aBouT tHe MeDiA!!"

[@sgrimes100]

@@Prathik1989 Was that meant to be funny?

[@hongyuwu2940]

Vox always produces high-quality videos like this that focus on social issues. Great work!

[@russellhayes9876]

We need more honest content like this.

[@jordankindschi8529]

Great reporting. No agenda trying to be pushed, just clearly laying out the history and facts. Keep it up.

[@subifyouhatetiktokandreddit234]

🤣 Amazing joke

[@mehere8038]

There's no doubt going to be an agenda as the series continues, but I do like the factual reporting here & I hope the agenda follows the path this seems to be on, of looking at corporations rather than blaming innocent individuals for the world's failures

[@jorgeavelar98]

Theyre clearing pushing an agenda. It was a very one sided video. They never point out the fact how more efficient meat processing is and how accessible meat now is. There are pros and cons to things and it seems like they only focused on the cons

[@CyJifian]

@@jorgeavelar98 I'm sorry but seeing "easier acces to meat" as a pro is such an old and idiotic 1950 to 2000 sentiment. 1. it's not more nutricious 2. it's capitalism trying to flex at it's finest at the expense of the climate. 3. it's morally disgusting. Go read the latest studies. The meat industry is literally a modernised version of what cigarette industry was in 1960's. The only con is: it tastes good to most people, but does it justify hurting the climate? does it justify hurting your own health? does it justify hurting the animals?

[@ZacchaeusNifong]

Agreed.

[@jamaallewis3520]

The problem when you vote against government regulation despite it being the thing that will keep your family business running. Regulations need to make it easier to get through the door without excessive fees but these big companies need to lose some of their power because it's almost a monopoly( yes its more than one but you get the idea).

[@hereiseminem]

Oligopoly is the word you're looking for.

[@TheJadedJames]

Americans have been completely propagandized to on this. Deregulation = economic freedom or whatever. But it isn’t a fair race if there are no rules.

[@jamaallewis3520]

@@hereiseminem thanks it was escaping me this morning.

[@teejaybee8222]

People conflate bureaucracy with regulation. People never like extra "red tape" to get things done and that is what most people reference when they talk about "regulation". However, extra forms or steps to satisfy a regulation is actually bureaucracy and should be the target of change. Unfortunately, people conflate that with "regulation" is the problem and throw the baby out with the bathwater. (One could argue that this conflation was intentional!)

[@NoName-oq8qu]

so.. do you want a free market or not?

[@shamohit13]

Great documentary. Striking parallels between what happens in US Beef and in farms globally (Indian farm situations are similar), of building more and more concentrated supply chains while pricing out family businesses

[@fahmitaufik1254]

That's the hardest, most heartfelt "Yup" I've ever heard.

[@ComicalRealm]

"The problem is the consumption behavior. We have came to the point that we only care about making more money." - Courage the Cowradly Dog

[@Tsunami45chan]

From what episode is this?

[@tarant315]

Why you blaming the consumer? There is a system which is bend to profit a few. Now there so big nobody can touch them

[@DapperHesher]

What episode is this from exactly, Trumpsuckle?

[@goldiefox7128]

Like the Samsung Empire of South Korea? >.>

[@Mixedserpintine]

Dude said he lives in the same house his grandpa built in the 1800’s that’s amazing

[@chasjacks9378]

Back then they knew how to build houses.

[@caithemburrow5569]

How long do your houses last? Mine was built 1692

[@jacksevert3099]

@@chasjacks9378 the French and Chinese are the best home builders tho. There homes have lasted 100s of years longer than America was even a country

[@jacksevert3099]

@Krazer there are still Roman homes being used today!? I thought even the Palaces were mostly ruins now! Please tell me! where you saw this Roman home?

[@ebgor]

Great documentary. Shows how it isn't all about supply and demand but about market power.

[@impendio]

Extremely interesting video, will keep an eye on this new series.

[@napoleonibonaparte7198]

Ah yes, the problems are with Reagan’s policies and era again…

[@MrJuanmarin99]

"Why is it when something happens, it is always you three?" meme with Reagan, Thatcher and Neoliberalism.

[@2017NationalChamps]

TBH food prices were higher for consumers before Regan. Liberals love higher beef and Energy prices because it spurs adoption of renewables and plant based diets.

[@Mystro256]

@@2017NationalChamps You make that seem like a bad thing. Renewables are more sustainable and cutting out beef is better for your health.

[@thejosh0100]

Hindsight is 20/20...if you're willing to look

[@2017NationalChamps]

@@Mystro256 how did I make it seem like a bad thing? I just stated it as a matter of fact.

[@DailyDoseOfInternet]

This is sad man. The poor cows 😕

[@rubaiyatdunno482]

You vegan m8?

[@johnbray3051]

Love your video's

[@thoda_pyo_6946]

Hi DDOI :)

[@justsomepersononyoutube9271]

I hate it when animal activists only like dogs cats ect..in the west and don't Like cows and call the Chinese inhumane for eating dogs

[@uhohhotdog]

Poor cows not being in my tummy yet.

[@jacobparry3954]

Great video - rare to see antitrust broken down into such a simple and comprehensible video (while still conveying the complexity of how markets work). More of this please!

[@goatman3780]

I found this to be a great explanation of the currently flawed system. I see this far too often with conventional cattlemen raise a product only to be met with ever diminishing margins when he goes off to the sale barn. In someway, I'm almost gleeful to see the ransom-ware attack against JBS as its aftereffects shed light on the severely concentrated nature of the industry and thus point consumers to direct marketing outlets like farmers markets.

[@jba2048]

I love how people think that if they buy one brand of meat versus another brand that they’re buying different meat in reality they all probably came from the same slaughterhouse

[@jennyh4025]

Just don’t buy brand meat. Buy local and/or organic.

[@Pixelarter]

It's the same with most industrialized food and beverages. Few brands like Unilever, Nestlé, PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, Mondeléz, Kellogg's, Kraft Heinz, General Mills... own almost every brand you buy.

[@jamesbedford7327]

In the UK, I have never really seen brands for raw meat, except for processed meats like sausage and bacon. Everything is just the supermarket branding

[@adamt195]

Just stop eating meat.

[@jba2048]

@@adamt195 I did ten years ago. Haven’t eaten it since.

[@andrewlehman1035]

my families cattle ranch is on its last generation and is about to be shut down. Its been around for 3 generations and I was upset that the last generation never taught the next generation (my generation) anything of the trade, now I think it might have been a blessing that I never got involved in that industry to begin with.

[@CLOSPLAYZ]

Good. No more generations of ur fam can hurt innocent beings ever again.

[@JaredHeimer]

Keep it running! I’m the first generation on our family farm. We just started our cow calf production here in Texas!

[@myopinionmeansmore]

@@CLOSPLAYZ what??🤣🤣

[@yosoydpfknr2855]

@@JaredHeimer i wish you good luck. That's how our country progress

[@notfriendlyeggwithamustach5948]

@@CLOSPLAYZ ok...

[@tELMOmlet13]

Glad I buy from local farms and don’t support Tyson. It can be unfortunately expensive but I think it’s worth it to not compromise my values

[@bradsmith5838]

Thank you for directly supporting my fellow cattlefolks. Have you had the opportunity to tour a farm near you?

[@lereff1382]

thank you so much for choosing to buy meat from local farms instead of those big factory farms. I'm sure the animals would thank you if they knew of the immense sacrifices you make, going out of your way to support local family businesses when paying for them to be murdered for no ethically sound reason whatsoever. Good job!

[@bradsmith5838]

@@lereff1382 murdered????? Are you that ridiculous? Why don't you go tell a lion not to "murder" a zebra, or does that not fit your propagandists agend.

[@skarthik345]

@@bradsmith5838 If you leave it to PETA or these other guys out here, they'll start prosecuting all wild animals for surviving and start to regulate their diets to an all vegan meal. LOL.

[@colterdaniel2310]

Very informative. Thank you for your time spent seeking the truth!

[@jerujedesu]

I am not even from America and I felt the pain that these people feel. It really doesn't matter where you live we all feel the same feelings. This was really good! Great story!

[@adg5391]

You are lucky you are not American;these Americans will soon or later will be slaughtered by Other nations..INDIA;China;Russia...

[@careywyatt1327]

thanks for shining a light on whats happening , God bless you .

[@jeronimom1593]

This was well done, thank you !

[@naaimurreza1164]

Literally no one: American cattle feeder: “They’ll feed them to an age of 700 pounds.”

[@attackandsnack]

It's a product to them, not a living breathing dreaming feeling being

[@SpEdBoyFred]

@@attackandsnack a tasty one too

[@sienxwei]

Also, due to fast growth or slow growth in the cattle, age doesn't really matter to them. The optimal weight of the cattle is what they're really looking for.

[@ganesang5537]

I wonder what Brad's age is! 220 lbs?

[@himlolo]

@@attackandsnack yes cows have many hopes and dreams lol

[@sheldenmixon2354]

That’s not the only industry like that, while more well known, another industry that a video on would be great is the timber prices and that of the lumber market

[@Username27288]

yessirr!!!

[@sweetpeasandyarrowaranchdi8327]

Yes, we have cattle and timber. Can't even thin our trees, which would be good for the environment and fire danger. There aren't anymore mills close to take them too, which makes us have to pay to get rid of trees.

[@Wheelietrucker]

Absolutely… it’s the exact same story. Large mills bought out the small ones giving log producers less choice of who to sell too and building code regulations requiring graded lumber prevent the formation of new small scale operations.

[@lukasmeggs5857]

Not to mention tech companies too. It’s across the board. Google, Apple, Samsung, they’re all buying up and coming businesses to weed out competition

[@hhiippiittyy]

Every industry.

[@Morrison_meatsmith]

I love this thanks for sharing!!! This is so important!!!

[@liopergonsd58]

Now do a video a out a handfull of companies who own music/production/media companies

[@bri1085]

Three top be exact and it's like that for a lot of industries

[@NightcoreTKFF]

oy vey shut it down

[@bri1085]

@Jord The Canadian including this channel

[@ghillepig2]

@@bri1085 well duh it's a news channel

[@richardface2096]

Lol it's a mediaopoly!

[@gerardparker4220]

I knew the answer before I started watching the video. Learning the key players in the supply chain and pricing was very informative. Great video.

[@vanfisher3613]

Great reporting as always!! I’m a journalism student and strive to make content as well produced as VOX’s. One note, and I hope someone at VOX reads this: there was a high pitched sound included in the music around 8:00, that was TOTALLY distracting and loud. Maybe it’s just due to my headphones but I would def either cut out the high end or find another song.

[@dannydaw59]

I read an article somewhere around late summer 2021 that a bunch of cattle ranchers in the US are banding together to make their own meatpacking operation. That's where the profit$ are. There's some kind of antitrust case going on with 2 of the meatpackers fixing prices. I wish you good luck cattle ranchers.

[@ruan0408]

Everything always boils down to Reagan and Thatcher.

[@dbclass4075]

Her? The effect crossed the Atlantic?

[@auldfouter8661]

Actually prosperity in UK agriculture peaked in 1996 , from the point Labour were elected in 1997 things nosedived.

[@bradsmith5838]

Ruan Costa just stick to what you actually know, like how to order your coffee, cause talking about things you know nothing about just really isn't working out for you.

[@coffee4682]

@@auldfouter8661 Thatcher was not in office in 1996

[@coffee4682]

@@dbclass4075 Reagan ruined US and Thatcher ruined UK, is that hard for you?

[@MrJuanmarin99]

"Why is it when something happens, it is always you three?" meme with Reagan, Thatcher and Neoliberalism.

[@GigaChadlovesandcares]

Every president since FDR has been a neoliberal for the most part, don’t blame it on conservative leaders solely since liberal leaders especially in the US are just as guilty as their conservative counterpart

[@lancethrustworthy]

Excellent. You explain well; that's important. Please continue.

[@therealcool1144]

So in short - The current inflation phenomena is caused by greedy oligopolies. Not because of demand and supply but because of direct market power of oligopolies.

[@johntrent151]

Why did this just become a problem when Biden became president? If these 4 companies have all the power they would have done this before 2021.

[@mercdragons]

No whats causing the inflation is the unsure future of the cattle industry under this administration. An administration that wants to get rid of this industry under the green deal.

[@therealcool1144]

@@johntrent151 I'm pretty sure they were doing it before. Now it's even worse.

[@therealcool1144]

@@mercdragons so you're telling me, 4 big players with market power doesn't do anything. Come on man, study some economics. Monopolies/Oligopolies are price setters because they have the power to do set prices.

[@johntrent151]

@@therealcool1144 Why did it just become a problem in 2021? Hint… Let’s go Brandon!

[@mirmahboub]

The Irony of people who voted for "less-regulation-government" and losing their family businesses due to the consequences of the same policy!

[@the7311]

Dude tell me about it. I can feel bad for them but that’s the product of their Vote

[@davidericbateman4370]

It's hard to feel bad for people that consistently vote against their own best interest all so they can "own the libs"

[@friskydingooo7992]

That's the gag about republicans, they are the party of big corporations but use the small people to deregulate industries, it's wild to watch this video but still have people debate on free healthcare, free education, free housing, sooner or later corporations will eat everything up, people will wonder why did we give up so much for so little

[@fiammaorsmth9840]

Leopards ate my face

[@kellys5949]

I’m really looking forward to seeing more from this series!

[@2TMarie]

Much Respect for the Ranchers & Farmers! 🌞

[@bradsmith5838]

Thank you

[@2TMarie]

@@bradsmith5838 💖

[@frederickontour1478]

Love this series!

[@tcu1099]

11:50 is heartbreaking.

[@angelfigueroa310]

He’s not crying , he had something in his eye

[@variant0076]

I just love the detail in these videos

[@mikaelnielsen7374]

Thank you! More of this, please.

[@P.rusticus]

Excellent job, Vox. Viewers, spread the word: Tell your Congress-person to help those cattle ranchers out. They are honest, extremely hard working people. What wasn't shown here is that, that auction process (competitive bidding) is, often times, the only break those ranchers get from a 7 day work week. Cattle herds need feed and attention every day of the year. That once a week auction, for the rancher, runs from the morning until early afternoon. Even during their break, these ranchers are working on maintaining the quality of their herds.

[@FinancialShinanigan]

Look at many industries and they're already consolidated to just a handful of players.

[@Munchausenification]

KZbin pls fix the bot problem! Yeah some industries need better regulations. Here in Scandinavia we have basically one company in milk and processing of milk into various products called Arla. However its called a good monopoly, because it needs to be big enough to compete against other companies of the same size in Europe and the rest of the world. Here the producer is part owners of the manufactoring part (as said before, Arla) so they have power to enforce higher prices for their milk if the company is doing well and opposite if demand for milk should fall. So its basically a self-regulating business, I wonder if there are similar types of businesses out there.

[@thetimelapseguy8]

​@@Munchausenification Yes monopolies are ok when they are competing with the rest of the world. I am hoping Scandinavian farmers can sell milk to other processers in Europe, so they aren't forced to sell cheap for Arla. Is this how it works?

[@Munchausenification]

​@@thetimelapseguy8 Not every dairy farmer is part of the Arla business, but id say 90-95% are. Actually I was wrong in my first comment. the farmers ARE the owners of the company 100%. This is from their website on the subject: Arla is a dairy cooperative, owned by more than 9,700 farmers. All the benefits from the sale of Arla’s products go back to those owners. The owners live in seven countries in Northern Europe and they share the earnings equally on each litre of milk they deliver to Arla. Our cooperative roots go all the way back to the 1880s and our structure means that we work collaboratively to create a sustainable long term future for the dairy industry.

[@JohnMalik]

Brilliant work. Feed lots are disasters for the environment and the rise of cheap beef and its diet of corn and grains has created a multitude of health issues for our country, and the cattle.

[@KarlRamstedt]

Fanastic vid. Can't wait for more in this vein!

[@kianag.8575]

Not the sad cowboy, bro he almost burst out into tears 😭 cattle ranching is no joke its hard work

[@BunToomo]

11:45 The rancher almost breaking down here is really heart-wrenching. My heart aches when I hear him talk. This means a lot to him.

[@susanne5803]

Another huge problem are bacteria with multiple resistances against antibiotics. If such bacteria spread in one packing plant they spread to an extremely large group of meat consumers.

[@blueberrieys]

i cba with meat

[@blueberrieys]

but imagine another pandemic

[@impressionistication]

Dang I just love Vox's Editing Style

[@tout-puissantjefferson2692]

Thank you, for doing a remarkable job!

[@krista2216]

Thank you for this. This issue is huge, as you showed. The fact that big companies control the market means that the small guys don't get the money they're due, and that they need. It's plain obvious, but I'm a scientist, not an economist... 😉

[@snwyn]

Rappers control 90% of the world's beef

[@NaomiDisaster]

This comment is Gold 👌🏻

[@snwyn]

@@NaomiDisaster thanks mate😁

[@creamsicle1678]

😂

[@Username-sv4bg]

Finally found the comment I've been looking for after reading the title💀💀

[@keeska]

XDDDDDDDD HAHA VERY FUNYYYYY COMMENT 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@tobyhorn9641]

Yep I can agree with most of this when we owned cattle we did a little bit of all the first three of the stages of the cattle market but we also were more divers than what ranchers are now

[@Path-of-Islam-]

Videos like this remind me why I subscribed to this channel

[@ramnareshgurjar4427]

I am from small landholding cattle Rearing family in India and l can feel his pain at 11:40 down to bottom of my 💓 . It's really heartbreaking to see his family legacy from 1882 getting destroyed by some money minded vultures. Agriculture or cattle rearing is a completely different emotional experience. People living in rural hinterland will only get that not some city educated snobs getting business mgmt degrees. with fast pace of globalisation and the way govt is pushing legislation without giving two hoots about protection of innocent farmers. It took America about 40 years to reach this stage if 3 recently cleared now suspended laws aren't withdrawn India would be in much worse situation in about 8-10 year's

[@dizzy328]

India can have cattle?

[@ramnareshgurjar4427]

@@dizzy328 Why Not. India is one of the oldest civilizations to master cattle herding and agriculture maybe not the size of American Ranches now but Almost every indian Farmer is doing cattle herding as a supplementary activity.

[@jacksevert3099]

@@ramnareshgurjar4427 don't 20 and out of the 29 Indian states ban cow slaughter? Is it just not enforced?

[@sadiqrahman2961]

@@jacksevert3099 Yeah and he is probably from the states that dont ban cow slaughter. Remember each Indian state has a population of a country in Europe or AFrica

[@prabhakart1]

@@sadiqrahman2961 Uttar Pradesh state has a population of 250 million. Much more than any European country. More than every country other than China, India and USA.

[@owenflaherty9207]

thank you for bringing attention to this issue, while I myself haven't been affected by the ruin of the meat industry my really rurally rooted family has been.

[@NewAge374]

This is fascinating! Excellent video production uncovering a neglected side of a increasingly controversial industry. This is how I wish I was taught the basics of economics, through examples and history. If you're really into it you can play with numbers later... Looking at the human cost is a great angle for people considering to lower their meat intake, but I hope it doesn't turn the other way around: people increasing their meat intake in order to support ¨our local ranchers¨, for some patriotic ideal of maintaining a legacy. I do feel for these people that don't know if they can provide for their families, but is there any job where you can expect to work for hundreds of years without any change affecting you?

[@rail_bender5205]

Information is key to understand what is happening. The access to information changed the game as everyone in the chain learns what their negotiating strength or position is. As a a result consolidation is consistent with any Peradio distribution curve in business or government bureaucracy.

[@omerrash9480]

11:48 Am I the only one crying here. Looking an old man cry to see how century old business legacy going out of his hands.😭😭😭

[@slowbro1337]

My family's ranch in Texas is 300 head Neighbors just hit bankruptcy with their ranch and we are struggling and honestly with how things are going not far behind

[@fatmirzekaj5582]

I am sorry to hear that. I hope your family will make it.

[@kylet.4582]

I like the clever reuse of the phrase "trickle down" throughout the video

[@baronwynter6536]

Keep this up, this is what we need to know.

[@michaelzhuhovitsky3889]

So many segments of the American economy are like: Things were OK and then Reagan came along. Edit: Spelling

[@Kazwire]

It’s reigen but close enough

[@lucbloom]

@@Kazwire lol u got it wrogn to.

[@robertshelton3796]

All the people in this video have voted for Republicans since the 1970s. No mercy. No pity.

[@fiammaorsmth9840]

Not just the economy, frankly.

[@omarmallah5686]

@@robertshelton3796 excuse me??

[@tonybutcher4762]

Once the cattle leave the pasture, that is when the real wolves emerge.

[@bretthoughton7887]

@Phoenix 𝙾𝚙𝚎𝚗 𝙼𝚢 PROFILE that's how commercial herds are, "aged" because many different types of beef cattle reach 700 pounds at different stages in their life.

[@kevingeezy5176]

this is all industries, really. tyson, smithfield, perdue own almost all of the chicken/pork industry too

[@pjwhitner]

This is critical information, thanks for sharing 🙏

[@filmfan4]

Greed consumes itself, like killing the golden goose. Those who take more, leaving others with less, rely on those same others for what they get!

[@sreejikm]

All of them should unite, try to form a cooperative society where the benefit is with the lower tier cattle producers until it reaches the Factory. The company shouldnt be allowed to buy unless they come to the auction, thereby all from top to bottom gets fair price. Cooperative strength can outsmart the cooperation strength.

[@david-rd2qc]

U forgot how businesses hate cooperation. If one group is not listening, just replace them.

[@Ellie-gn1vo]

Allow me to introduce you to the 80s union busting

[@visi9856]

@@david-rd2qc look up Amul model

[@jaydancraven1117]

This is journalism right here! Didn't make anyone the enemy just told us who did what and we have to decide who the enemy is.

[@tylerrowland1236]

As a cow and calf producer this is a serious problem thank you Vox for making this video

[@shamerzaihan8638]

Im a cattle rancher, i own several farms here in Malaysia, pretty interesting to see how the US beef industry works.

[@mehere8038]

how does it work in Malaysia by comparison?

[@shamerzaihan8638]

@@mehere8038 our government subsidise cattle farmer here quite generously because we import so much beef with only the population of 30 mil we’re the 10th biggest beef importers in the world so the government wants the domestic cattle farmer to produce more high end cattle beef to satisfy the domestic demand, so they heavily subsidised us, we also have the same system used by cattle farmers in Australia albeit not on the same scale since we are a fairly small country compared to Australia massive land mass.

[@mehere8038]

@@shamerzaihan8638 good move on their part imo. Always good to be independent in food supplies, I think covid's taught us that well!. What system is that in Australia though? I'm not aware of massive subsidies for cattle farmers in Australia, is that what you're talking about or something totally different? I think I might be getting confused/not following what you're saying correctly

[@shamerzaihan8638]

@@mehere8038 no what i meant is in terms of how a cattle ranch operates its quite similar to our Australian counterpart, government policy wise its a different story hehe.

[@y.b4251]

@@mehere8038 u see the explanation by OP right? There's a gimmick. You must be very well connected or person of particular race to apply most of the low interest subsidy. My brother tried to apply it, it was blatantly rejected. Well because of the color of the skin.

[@pabloo014]

when that rancher choked up i felt really bad. this is their whole lives and most likely something their parents grandparents built up. the pressure to keep it running successfully is really taking a toll on him.

[@fritel78]

This is a great video with a lot of good information! The question should be why doesn’t anyone start a fifth or sixth big name packing plant? Will one or two more plants help?

[@alanrivas2950]

“It’s over for the little guy” best line in the sopranos

[@petitthom2886]

I wonder if the name of the city comes from the former French province of Saintonge that was abolished at the Revolution, because the area covered by South Dakota was part of the French Louisiana sold by Napoleon.

[@Dujhxoqksgwowneb]

This just shows that differences your career, political beliefs, or way of life doesn’t matter - large institutions, be it government or business, will always take everything and leave you with nothing, that’s what happens when power is consolidated. I am a very different kind of person from the ranchers shown here, but I feel their pain.

[@chandler6595]

Great stuff. Keep it up.

[@Markharv]

Really excellent report! Thank you!

[@PharmacyKeys]

What worries me most, as a Kiwi, is that the rest of the world see’s the profit American corporations reap and think ‘What a fantastic idea, let’s try that here! We can make all the money.’ Capitalism isn’t, by definition, destructive. Being greedy, by definition, is. Cheers Yankees.

[@RFLCPTR]

Capitalism is always destructive because being greedy is what the market incentivizes. Capitalism makes being greedy the most successful behaviour.

[@nzuckman]

It may not be destructive by definition, but destruction is ultimately a conclusion: the environment and its resources aren't economically valuable when left in tact. It's always more profitable to destroy and abuse nature in the short term, and capitalism forces companies to ONLY consider the short term, even at the detriment of the long term (as long as it isn't personally their problem).

[@johnong7348]

Wow u all seem intelligent while me being here like: U are a kiwi 🥝🤨

[@andreizonga4611]

Capitalism is by definition destructive, though here capitalism is defined as an economic system where NO government regulation is involved. That means that on a left-right economic scale is at the right extreme. The left extreme is communism. The system that America uses, Neo-liberalism (a system introduced by Reagan) is in the center of the right part of the line (i.e in the middle between center-right and capitalism). The system that America used before Reagan and that most European countries use is Liberalism, which is centre right. The system that the Nordics use is Social Democracy, which is centre-left, and finally, the system that Venesuela uses is socialism, a system to the left of social democracy. Time and time again, it has been proven that America needs to switch at least to Liberalism. So, capitalism in the economic sense is always destructive, but capitalism in the popular sense (i.e. an economic system that is right-leaning) is not always destructive, as we can see and learn from Europe.

[@oaktree__]

It's adorable that you think Americans invented this and promulgate this entirely on their own. It's not like other nations aren't equally culpable for their decisions. Blaming it all on the US is embarrassing. Sure, they have an outsize influence, but as a Canadian I can tell you that other nations (especially Commonwealth countries like yours and mine) have just as much responsibility for ourselves.